Christopher James Mendez

Christopher James Mendez age 49 of Laurel, Nebraska died suddenly on Monday, March 6, 2023 at his residence.

Funeral services will be on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at United Lutheran Church in Laurel, Nebraska with the Rev. Matthew Quanbeck officiating. Military rites will be conducted outside of church following the funeral by the Laurel VFW Post #4504 & the Laurel American Legion Post #54.  Burial will be at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery in Norfolk following a luncheon at the church.  Visitation will be on Saturday, at church, from 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Laurel.

Pallbearers will be Trace Naeve, Travis Holz, David Badley, Royce Fairley, Jeff Schlecht, and Jake Jensen.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Employees of Freightliner Truck Center.

Christopher James was born on February 22, 1974 in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan to Joseph Michael and Gloria Jean (Volquardsen) Mendez.  He grew up with military parents and moved to Norfolk, Nebraska at the age of five years to live with his grandparents, Henry & Shirley Volquardsen.  He graduated from High School in 1992. Chris then joined the Navy, serving for four years from April 19, 2000 until April 30, 2004.  Upon his honorable discharge Chris attended Northeast Community College and receive a degree in Diesel Mechanics. He was formerly married to Tamara Brabec of Fremont, NE from 2007-2010.  Chris began working for the Hansen Brothers in Laurel and continued on with Yvonne Hansen.  Chris was presently working for Freightliner Truck Center Company in Norfolk.

Chris really enjoyed fishing, playing video games with Mason, keeping up on all the latest world and U.S. news and was an excellent cook.  The most important thing in his life was his son Mason, whom he would do anything for.

Chris is survived by his son Mason Mendez of Winside, NE; father Mike Mendez of Leavenworth, KS; Mason’s parents Mike & Sarah Naeve of Winside; and Mason’s eight siblings Nathan (Laura) Hancock of Sioux Falls, SD, Terence (Whitney) Hancock of Sioux Falls, SD, Narelle (Sean) Burns of Omaha, NE, Kayli, Trace, Stephanie, Anna, and Gracie Naeve of Winside; brother Patrick (Julie) Boardman of Waukee, Iowa; aunts and uncles Linda Becker of Lincoln,NE, Keith Volquardsen of Ankeny,IA, Jerry Volquardsen of Lincoln, NE, Peggy Wegner of Norfolk, NE.

He was preceded in death by his mother Gloria Jean Volquardsen; grandparents Henry & Shirley Volquardsen; Joe & Eileen Mendez and Alice and Owen Boardman.